Pictures We Love: Elements of Surprise

National Geographic’s Proof blog invited the photography and design teams of National Geographic magazine to look back through the hundreds of photographs from the over 75 stories published in 2013 and select one photo that spoke to their heart, intrigued them, inspired awe, made them smile—in short, to choose their favorite photo from this past year. Over the next several days we’ll bring you a round-up of the breathtaking, the touching, the extraordinary, the imperfect, and the beautiful.

One of the most memorable stories I worked on this year was Yasuní National Park (“Rain Forest for Sale”). It was a special story because we conducted a photo blitz, sending five photographers for one month to document every aspect of this Ecuadorian park, from threatened species and isolated tribes to oil drilling and deforestation. They delivered a wealth of visual riches.

Photographers Ivan Kashinsky and Karla Gachet worked together to cover the Waorani people, immersing themselves in the daily lives of the tribe and documenting the impact oil companies have had on their culture.

This image of Waorani hunters by Ivan stays with me. I love its rawness—both how it was shot and what it portrays. It speaks to the purity of the people, still hunting for food and relatively untouched by the modern world and possessions. The image transports me to another time.

Ivan breaks the rules by putting a person in the middle of the frame and by cutting off half a body. Yet with the angled gun and machete in the foreground, and the hunter in the background giving dimension, the image is arresting.

This picture is really striking to me because of the beautiful window light and the woman’s expression. I’m drawn to pictures that inspire more questions, and this photo really accomplishes that well. Who is this woman? How does she feel about her life? The odd bareness of the fish tank reminds you of where she is: North Korea.

Next: Dark Energy, January 2013

Launch Gallery

Jeanne Modderman, Photo Editor

What I love about this photo is that it exceeded anything I could have imagined. I am often tasked with making the non-visual visual. How was I going to illustrate a story about measuring an invisible quantity like dark energy? Staff photographer Mark Thiessen took this flat, dull metal disk and transformed it into a stunning object. His vision and technical skill made it intriguing and mysterious.

This is what is so exciting about photography. With most everything already photographed, you can still see objects in new, provocative ways. Whether you’re interested in space or not, this compelling image encourages you to read the story and hopefully learn something you didn’t know before.

Jenny Trucano, Budget Manager

When David Guttenfelder showed us the pictures he shot for “Last Song for Migrating Birds,” a story about how poachers coat tree branches with glue to trap migrating songbirds, I was horrified.

Who would want to eat a sweet little oriole? And how could there possibly be enough meat to make the effort worthwhile? It would be one thing if people need the birds to subsist, but that’s mostly not the case­­. These birds are considered delicacies that people pay a lot of money for.

So when David projected this image of a man with the wing of a blackcap in his lips, I braced myself for a gruesome story about how the man ate the bird live. Instead, David told us, the man was actually a conservationist sucking the sticky sap from the wings of a bird that had been stuck in a glue trap.

What at first glance looks like a moment of imminent violence and tragedy is actually a moment of incredible tenderness and hope. As with so many things, there is more than meets the eye in this picture.

There are 34 Comments. Add Yours.

its amazing to read these stories …!!! its shows us all new perspective of nature and life as well .

swati giri
May 10, 2014

its amazing to read these stories …!!!

Rose Ayap
January 23, 2014

These pictures tells us a beautiful story, story that touches our hearts and move us into action. So sad that some would tell that we can’t do nothing. I think every positive action we do to protect nature and it’s inhabitants no matter how small will have it’s ripple effect. Thank you for sharing these “talking photographs” .

Adventurer’s Supply Store
January 22, 2014

Such a great story. Enlightening at times and sad at moments. Fantastic photography

Sharon
January 21, 2014

Awesome images. Wonderful way to learn about the world.

Nadine
January 20, 2014

Absolutely awesome as usual. I wish more people would look at Nat Geo! They might understand and appreciate our wonderful planet and some of the interesting secrets it holds!

Ann
January 19, 2014

Beautiful! This inspires faith in humanity.

Alexandra
January 18, 2014

🙂

Diane Barnes
January 12, 2014

A tender moment!

jeff carlson
January 11, 2014

I enjoy photographing unexpected happenings.I was out for a bike ride one day last year ,I stopped to rest on a trail layed the bike down to my surprise, a blueish purple butterfly landed on my bike axle as if also wanting to rest it stayed there awhile ,I decided to photograph it ,it finally flew away when I picked the bike up to leave.

This is a truly great photo in that not only is it artfully crafted with brilliant focus, color and subjects, but also asks so many questions, creates so many different possible reactions and is equally satisfying when you get the “real” reason the photo was snapped.

Barbara Reish
January 6, 2014

The article on trapping songbirds gives me more reason to do what I can to help birds in Missouri. I was horrified that this is happening in Europe/North Africa.

Christiaan
January 6, 2014

Wonderful a moment money cant buy

DUSHKO PEN
January 6, 2014

Words : Haim Hefer
Tune:
There is another song performance

If I were a bird
Glider cloud
If I were a bird
Glider cloud

Retire Wings
Ali Land and Water
And assigns sky
Aviac here

And all because of love, love
And all because of love, love
And all because of love, love
And all because of love, love
Aviac here

It was like a deer
Cattails distances
It was like a deer
Cattails distances

Mountains of Moon
Meadows and forest thickets
And afraid to speak
Aviac here

And all because of love …

If I were a whale
Fathoms diver
If I were a whale
Fathoms diver

Time Saar wash it
An ocean beach that has
So from the bottom end has not
Aviac here

And all because of love …

But I am a simple soldier
The writer you Lyrics
But I am a simple soldier
The writer you Lyrics

Ahrose you wings
Veld and sea water
Thus one and two
Aviac here

And all because of love …

Yvonne van Schooten
January 6, 2014

This image is a gentle reminder of how dedicated we can be to saving the smallest creature. It is heart warming and sensitive.

meenakshi
January 5, 2014

love the picture of the little bird in hands of this kind-hearted conservationist.

Tammera
January 5, 2014

I didn’t see it as violent in any way, when i first saw this. I got the feeling of tenderness (for whatever the reason).. Beautiful photo, thanks.

melisa
January 5, 2014

I think humans are a heartless species. .who eats little birds? The same people who like little kids thats who. ..terrible but what can we do to stop it? Nothing.